Foldable basket

ABSTRACT

A foldable basket has a basket body and a bottom plate. The basket body has two lateral plates, two folding sets, and a supporting cloth. The two lateral plates and the two folding sets are connected. The supporting cloth is connected to bottom edges of the two lateral plates and the two folding sets. A storage space is enclosed by the lateral plates, the folding sets, and the supporting cloth. The bottom plate is detachably disposed on a bottom of the basket body. Each folding set has multiple end plates connected in sequence. Each two adjacent end plates are connected via a conjoining plate being flexible. Two end plates of each folding set respectively disposed adjacent to the two lateral plates are connected to the two lateral plates via two corner linking plates being flexible respectively.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a basket for storing objects, and moreparticularly to a basket that is able to be folded smoothly.

2. Description of Related Art

With the progress of technology and the abundance in materialpossessions and resources, people need more space for living. Therefore,one of the crucial household problems is to store as many objects aspossible within a limited space. Traditional furniture or a traditionalcase for storing objects has a large volume and occupies a lot of livingspace.

Therefore, a conventional foldable basket is available on the market.The conventional foldable basket has a basket body and a bottom plate.The basket body has six lateral plates, a supporting cloth, and a cover.The six lateral plates overlap at side edges of the lateral plates andare connected in sequence to form a storage space being rectangular. Thesupporting cloth is connected to bottom edges of the lateral plates. Thecover is wrapped on the six lateral plates. The bottom plate isdetachably disposed on a bottom of the basket body. When theconventional foldable basket is in use, the six lateral plates areexpanded, and the bottom plate is placed inside the basket body. Objectscan be stored in the conventional foldable basket accordingly. When theuser is to fold the conventional foldable basket, the bottom plate istaken out from the basket body, and then the six lateral plates can befolded to overlap to reduce a volume of the conventional foldablebasket.

However, the lateral plates of the basket body of the conventionalfoldable basket are connected together with the side edges of theoverlapped lateral plates and are wrapped by the cover. When folding twoof the lateral plates that are disposed adjacent to each other, theremay be mutual interference between the two adjacent and overlappedlateral plates, causing difficulty in folding. The two adjacent lateralplates rub against each other easily when being folded. The two adjacentlateral plates may be damaged or broken under repeated folding.Consequently, the conventional foldable basket has a short service life.

In addition, the lateral plates of the conventional foldable basket areusually made of fragile materials such as cardboards or veneers. Thelateral plates of the conventional foldable basket are easily deformedwhen subjected to an external force. The cover wrapped on the lateralplates may be damaged or broken due to moisture, dust, or externalforces, such that the service life of the conventional foldable basketis decreased.

To overcome the shortcomings of the conventional foldable basket, thepresent invention provides a foldable basket to mitigate or obviate theaforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main objective of the present invention is to provide a foldablebasket that provides storage and is foldable.

The foldable basket has a basket body and a bottom plate. The basketbody has two lateral plates, two folding sets, and a supporting cloth.The two lateral plates and the two folding sets are connected. Thesupporting cloth is connected to bottom edges of the two lateral platesand the two folding sets. A storage space is enclosed by the lateralplates, the folding sets, and the supporting cloth. The bottom plate isdetachably disposed on a bottom of the basket body. Each folding set hasmultiple end plates connected in sequence. Each two adjacent end platesare connected via a conjoining plate being flexible. Two end plates ofeach folding set respectively disposed adjacent to the two lateralplates are connected to the two lateral plates via two corner linkingplates being flexible respectively.

Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention willbecome more apparent from the following detailed description when takenin conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a foldable basketin accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the foldable basket in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional top view of the foldable basket in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional top view of the foldable basket inFIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is another top view of the foldable basket in FIG. 1, showing thebasket being folded;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a foldable basketin accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a foldable basketin accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the foldable basket in FIG. 7;and

FIG. 9 is a top view of the foldable basket in FIG. 7, showing thebasket being folded.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, a first embodiment of a foldable basketin accordance with the present invention has a basket body 10A and abottom plate 20A.

With reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, the basket body 10A has two lateralplates 111, two folding sets 12, and a supporting cloth 14A. The twolateral plates 111 are separately disposed opposite to each other. Thetwo folding sets 12 are disposed between the two lateral plates 111 andare disposed opposite to each other. Each one of the two folding sets 12has multiple end plates 121 separately disposed in sequence. Each two ofthe multiple end plates 121 of each folding set 12, which are disposedadjacent to each other, are connected to each other via a conjoiningplate 122 being flexible. Two of the multiple end plates 121 of eachfolding set 12 are respectively disposed adjacent to the two lateralplates 111 respectively connected to the two lateral plates 111 via twocorner linking plates 13 being flexible respectively.

The supporting cloth 14A has a peripheral edge connected to bottom edgesof the two lateral plates and bottom edges of the two folding sets,wherein a storage space 15A is enclosed by the supporting cloth 14A, thetwo lateral plates 111, and the two folding sets 12. With reference toFIG. 2, the bottom plate 20A is detachably disposed on a bottom of thebasket body 10A.

The foldable basket of the present invention has a top strip 16 and abottom strip 17. The top strip 16 is covered with and connected to topedges of the two folding sets 12 and the two lateral plates 111. Thebottom strip 17 is covered with and connected to the bottom edges of thetwo folding sets 12 and the bottom edges of the two lateral plates 111.Further, the foldable basket of the present invention has two handles30. The two handles 30 are respectively connected to the two lateralplates 111 and disposed outside the basket body 10A. In addition, a pullring 21 is disposed at an edge of the bottom plate 20A.

Furthermore, with reference to FIG. 6, in a second embodiment of thepresent invention, the foldable basket of the present invention has atop cover 18 selectively covering the storage space 15A. The top cover18 has a first side edge and a second side edge being opposite to thefirst side edge of the top cover 18. The first side edge is pivotallyconnected to the top edge of one of the two lateral plates 111. Anextending plate 181 is pivotally connected to the second side edge ofthe top cover 18. In the second embodiment, the basket body 10B of thefoldable basket of the present invention has an engaging assembly 19.The engaging assembly 19 has a first engaging unit 191A and a secondengaging unit 191B. The first engaging unit 191A is connected to theextending plate 181. The second engaging unit 191B is connected to oneof the two lateral plates that is disposed opposite to the first sideedge of the top cover 18. The first engaging unit 191A and the secondengaging unit 191B are detachably engaged with each other.

With reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, a third embodiment of the foldablebasket of the present invention has the basket body 10C and the bottomplate 20B.

With reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, the basket body 10C has two lateralplate sets 11 and the two folding sets 12. Each lateral plate set 11 hasmultiple lateral plates 111 separately arranged in sequence. Each twolateral plates 111 of the multiple lateral plates 111 of each lateralplate set 11, which are disposed adjacent to each other, are connectedto each other via a linking plate 112 being flexible. The two foldingsets 12 are disposed between the two lateral plate sets 11 and oppositeto each other. Similar to the first embodiment and the secondembodiment, each folding set 12 also has the multiple end plates 121separately arranged between the two lateral plate sets 11. Each twoadjacent end plates 121 of the multiple end plates 121 of each foldingset 12 are connected to each other via the conjoining plate 122 beingflexible. Two of the multiple end plates 121 of each end plate set 12,which are respectively disposed adjacent to the two lateral plate sets11, are connected to a corresponding one of the lateral plates 111 ofone of the lateral plate sets 11 and a corresponding one of the lateralplates 111 of the other one of the lateral plate sets 11 via the twocorner linking plates being flexible respectively. The peripheral edgeof the supporting cloth 14B is connected to the bottom edges of the twolateral plate sets 11 and the bottom edges of the two folding sets 12 ofthe basket body 10C. The storage space 15B is enclosed by the twolateral plate sets 11, the two folding sets 12, and the supporting cloth14B as well.

With reference to FIG. 8, the bottom plate 20B is also detachablydisposed on the bottom of the basket body 10C.

The foldable basket of the present invention also has the top strip 16and the bottom strip 17. The top strip 16 is covered with and connectedto top edges of the two lateral plate sets 11 and the top edges of thetwo folding sets. The bottom strip 17 is covered with and connected tobottom edges of the two lateral plate sets 11 and the bottom edges ofthe two folding sets 12. Further, the foldable basket in the thirdembodiment also has the two handles 30 respectively connected to the twolateral plate sets 11 and disposed outside the basket body 10C.Moreover, the pull ring 21 is also disposed at the edge of the bottomplate 20B.

With reference to FIGS. 1, 5, 7, and 9, the foldable basket of thepresent invention may be folded and expanded by a user. With referenceto FIGS. 1 and 7, when the foldable basket of the present invention isexpanded, objects may be stored in the storage space 15A, 15B within thebasket body 10A, 10C. With reference to FIGS. 5 and 9, when the foldablebasket of the present invention is not in use, the bottom plate 20A, 20Bmay be removed from the basket body 10A, 10C. Therefore, the basket body10A, 10C may be folded for storage.

With reference to FIGS. 1, 2, and 5, when the first embodiment is inuse, the end plates 121 of the two folding sets 12 are expanded to letthe two lateral plates 111 and the two folding sets 12 of the basketbody 10A and the supporting cloth 14A form the storage space 15A. Then,the bottom plate 20A is inserted into the basket body 10A and isdisposed on the bottom of the basket body 10A. Edges of the bottom plate20A are abutted against the two lateral plates 111 and the two foldingsets 12 to fix an outline of the basket body 10A. When the user is tostore the foldable basket of the present invention, the bottom plate 20Ais removed, and the two folding sets 12 are folded toward each other todownsize the foldable basket of the present invention for ease ofstorage.

With reference to FIGS. 7 to 9, when the third embodiment is in use, theend plates 121 of the two folding sets 12 and the lateral plates 111 ofthe two lateral plate sets 11 are expanded. The two folding sets 12, thetwo lateral plate sets 11, and the supporting cloth 14B form the storagespace 15B. Then, the bottom plate 20B is inserted into the basket body10C and is disposed on the bottom of the basket body 10C. The edges ofthe bottom plate 20B are abutted against the two folding sets 12 and thetwo lateral plate sets 11 to fix the outline of the basket body 10C.When the user is to fold the foldable basket of the third embodiment,the bottom plate 20B is removed from the basket body 10C, and the basketbody 10C is folded to downsize the basket body 10C for storage.

With reference to FIGS. 3, 4, 6, and 7, the foldable basket of thepresent invention is able to be folded mainly via the conjoining plates122, the corner linking plates 13, and the linking plates 112 beingflexible. The basket body 10A, 10B, 10C can be folded due to theflexibility of the conjoining plates 122, the corner linking plates 13,and the linking plates 112. The end plates 121 and the lateral plates111 are free from mutual interference or rubbing. Structural damages ofthe end plates 121 and the lateral plates 111 can be avoided. Servicelife of the foldable basket of the present invention is prolonged.

Moreover, the end plates 121, the lateral plates 111, the conjoiningplates 122, the corner linking plates 13, and the linking plates 112 maybe made of plastic materials such as poly(ethylene-vinyl acetate)(PEVA), ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), polyurethane (PU), thermoplasticpolyurethanes (TPU), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polycarbonate(PC), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE),acrylonitrile butadiene styrene copolymers (ABS), and poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA). The end plates 121, the lateral plates 111, theconjoining plates 122, the corner linking plates 13, and the linkingplates 112 may be connected via radio frequency heating, gluing, orsewing. The end plates 121, the lateral plates 111, the conjoiningplates 122, the corner linking plates 13, and the linking plates 112connected together not only prolong the service life of the foldablebasket of the present invention, but also offer a waterproof effect.

In the embodiments of the present invention, the end plates 121, thelateral plates 111, the conjoining plates 122, the corner linking plates13, and the linking plates 112 are made of poly(ethylene-vinyl acetate)(PEVA). The foldable basket of the present invention is non-toxic andrecyclable accordingly. The foldable basket of the present invention hascharacteristics of low temperature resistance and ease in cleaning.

In addition, the top strip 16 and the bottom strip 17 not only preventthe top edge and the bottom edge of the basket body 10A, 10B, 10C fromdamage, but also protect the user from cutting by the end plates 121 andthe lateral plates 111. The top strip 16 and the bottom strip 17 promotesafety of usage. Furthermore, the pull ring 21 disposed at the edge ofthe bottom plate 20A, 20B is convenient for pulling out the bottom plate20A, 20B, and promotes convenience of usage of the foldable basket ofthe present invention. In conclusion, the end plates 122 and the lateralplates 111 in the present invention are connected via the conjoiningplates 122, the corner linking plates 13, and the linking plates 112.Therefore, the end plates 121 and the lateral plates 111 are free frommutual interference or rubbing. Structural damages of the end plates 121and the lateral plates 111 can be avoided. Service life of the foldablebasket of the present invention is prolonged accordingly.

Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the presentinvention have been set forth in the foregoing description, togetherwith details of the structure and features of the invention, thedisclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made in the details,especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts withinthe principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by thebroad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims areexpressed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A foldable basket comprising: a basket bodyhaving two lateral plates separately disposed opposite to each other;two folding sets disposed between the two lateral plates and opposite toeach other, each of the two folding sets having multiple end platesseparately arranged between the two lateral plates in sequence, each twoof the end plates of each of the two folding sets, which are disposedadjacent to each other, connected to each other via a conjoining platebeing flexible, and two of the end plates of each of the two foldingsets, which are disposed adjacent to the two lateral platesrespectively, connected to the two lateral plates via two corner linkingplates being flexible respectively; and a supporting cloth having aperipheral edge connected to bottom edges of the two lateral plates andbottom edges of the two folding sets, wherein a storage space isenclosed by the supporting cloth, the two lateral plates and the twofolding sets; and a bottom plate detachably disposed on a bottom of thebasket body.
 2. The foldable basket as claimed in claim 1, wherein thefoldable basket has a top strip connected to top edges of the twofolding sets and top edges of the two lateral plates; and a bottom stripconnected to bottom edges of the two folding sets and bottom edges ofthe two lateral plates.
 3. The foldable basket as claimed in claim 2,wherein the foldable basket has two handles respectively connected tothe two lateral plates and disposed outside the basket body.
 4. Thefoldable basket as claimed in claim 3, wherein a pull ring is disposedat an edge of the bottom plate.
 5. The foldable basket as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the foldable basket has a top cover selectivelycovering the storage space and having a first side edge pivotallyconnected to a top edge of one of the two lateral plates; a second sideedge being opposite to the first side edge of the top cover; and anextending plate pivotally connected to the second side edge of the topcover.
 6. The foldable basket as claimed in claim 2, wherein thefoldable basket has a top cover selectively covering the storage spaceand having a first side edge pivotally connected to the top edge of oneof the two lateral plates; a second side edge being opposite to thefirst side edge of the top cover; and an extending plate pivotallyconnected to the second side edge of the top cover.
 7. The foldablebasket as claimed in claim 3, wherein the foldable basket has a topcover selectively covering the storage space and having a first sideedge pivotally connected to the top edge of one of the two lateralplates; a second side edge being opposite to the first side edge of thetop cover; and an extending plate pivotally connected to the second sideedge of the top cover.
 8. The foldable basket as claimed in claim 4,wherein the foldable basket has a top cover selectively covering thestorage space and having a first side edge pivotally connected to thetop edge of one of the two lateral plates; a second side edge beingopposite to the first side edge of the top cover; and an extending platepivotally connected to the second side edge of the top cover.
 9. Thefoldable basket as claimed in claim 5, wherein the foldable basket hasan engaging assembly having a first engaging unit connected to theextending plate and a second engaging unit connected to one of the twolateral plates disposed opposite to the first side edge of the topcover, and the first engaging unit and the second engaging unitdetachably engage with each other.
 10. The foldable basket as claimed inclaim 6, wherein the foldable basket has an engaging assembly having afirst engaging unit connected to the extending plate and a secondengaging unit connected to one of the two lateral plates disposedopposite to the first side edge of the top cover, and the first engagingunit and the second engaging unit detachably engage with each other. 11.The foldable basket as claimed in claim 7, wherein the foldable baskethas an engaging assembly having a first engaging unit connected to theextending plate and a second engaging unit connected to one of the twolateral plates disposed opposite to the first side edge of the topcover, and the first engaging unit and the second engaging unitdetachably engage with each other.
 12. The foldable basket as claimed inclaim 8, wherein the foldable basket has an engaging assembly having afirst engaging unit connected to the extending plate and a secondengaging unit connected to one of the two lateral plates disposedopposite to the first side edge of the top cover, and the first engagingunit and the second engaging unit detachably engage with each other. 13.A foldable basket comprising: a basket body having two lateral platesets disposed opposite to each other, each of the two lateral plate setshaving multiple lateral plates separately arranged in sequence, and eachtwo of the multiple lateral plates of each of the two lateral platesets, which are disposed adjacent to each other, connected to each othervia a linking plate being flexible; two folding sets disposed betweenthe two lateral plate sets and opposite to each other, each of the twofolding sets having multiple end plates separately arranged between thetwo lateral plate sets in sequence, each two of the end plates of eachof the two folding sets, which are disposed adjacent to each other,connected to each other via a conjoining plate being flexible, and twoof the multiple end plates of each of the two folding sets, which aredisposed adjacent to the two lateral plate sets respectively, connectedto a corresponding one of the multiple lateral plates of one of the twolateral plate sets and a corresponding one of the lateral plates of theother lateral plate set via two corner linking plates being flexiblerespectively; and a supporting cloth having a peripheral edge connectedto bottom edges of the two lateral plate sets and bottom edges of thetwo folding sets, wherein a storage space is enclosed by the supportingcloth, the two lateral plates and the two folding sets; and a bottomplate detachably disposed on a bottom of the basket body.
 14. Thefoldable basket as claimed in claim 13, wherein the foldable basket hasa top strip connected to top edges of the two folding sets and top edgesof the two lateral plate sets; and a bottom strip connected to thebottom edges of the two folding sets and the bottom edges of the twolateral plate sets.
 15. The foldable basket as claimed in claim 14,wherein the foldable basket has two handles respectively connected tothe two lateral plate sets and disposed outside the basket body.
 16. Thefoldable basket as claimed in claim 13, wherein a pull ring is disposedat an edge of the bottom plate.
 17. The foldable basket as claimed inclaim 14, wherein a pull ring is disposed at an edge of the bottomplate.
 18. The foldable basket as claimed in claim 15, wherein a pullring is disposed at an edge of the bottom plate.